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Ron Cook: What Big Ben needs to do

What Big Ben needs to do

Monday, June 28, 2010
By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

We can't get away from Ben Roethlisberger. It's all Ben, all the time in the news. Even when the Steelers were supposed to be off vacationing before the start of training camp July 30, he made a surprise visit last week to his football camp for kids at Mars High School, probably against the wishes of some organizers and sponsors who had handed off the camp to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin after rape allegations against Roethlisberger in Georgia in March. Then, later in the week, Roethlisberger was called out publicly by teammate Hines Ward, who said Ben needs to address the Steelers as a group about his off-field indiscretions.

There really never is a slow news day with Ben.

The camp visit was fine. It was another small step in the right direction for Roethlisberger, who needs to be seen in a positive public spotlight as he tries to rebuild his life, image and football career. What better way to do it than by throwing around a football with a bunch of kids? Certainly, some parents of campers didn't like it, which is understandable. But if Roethlisberger had even a few minutes to teach a life lesson by telling those kids that everyone is responsible for his or her actions -- no matter how talented or rich or famous they might be -- they could have learned something from him.

The call-out by Ward was a little more troubling. It's hard to see what good can come from it. If Ward has a problem with Roethlisberger, he should have taken it to him, not to the NFL Network. Going public with it is never the right answer.

This isn't the first time this sort of thing has happened with Ward and Roethlisberger. In November, Ward insinuated to NBC that he and several teammates would have played in an important late-season division game against the Baltimore Ravens with concussion-like symptoms that kept Roethlisberger out. It became a national story after the Steelers were beaten by the Ravens in overtime in part because of an interception thrown by Roethlisberger's backup, Dennis Dixon. The defeat went a long way toward keeping the Steelers out of the playoffs.

In the furor that followed, Ward was quick to say his words were misinterpreted and that he didn't mean to question Roethlisberger's toughness. Still, there was damage done. "He reached out to me and I told him I was just more hurt than anything," Roethlisberger said at the time. The two appeared to put the issue behind them. Teammates don't have to like each other to play well together. Ward and Roethlisberger have been so good together that each appears headed to the Hall of Fame.

Now, that relationship will be tested again.

It is so unnecessary.

All Roethlisberger owes the Steelers is an apology. For putting the team in a terrible spot by getting suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for at least the first four games of the 2010 season. For putting each player in the uncomfortable predicament of having to answer questions about him, a process that Ward described as "tiring."

It is believed Roethlisberger already apologized to many teammates individually during the Steelers' organized team activities earlier this month. Just to be sure he didn't miss anyone, he needs to stand up in front of the players on the first day of camp and do it again. He has to tell them how sorry he is for letting them down by not being there with them for those first four games.

If that's all Ward wants from Roethlisberger, that's fine. But a more detailed explanation about what happened on that March 5 early morning in Milledgeville, Ga.? Roethlisberger's attorneys wouldn't allow it. Even if they would, there's no need for it. That would do no one any good.

The best thing Roethlisberger can do for the Steelers is show up at camp in the best shape of his life, be ready to play in the exhibition games and stay in that same great shape during his suspension when he won't be allowed to be at the team's South Side training headquarters for practices and meetings or use it for conditioning. Then, he must be prepared to start playing his best football when his suspension ends, presumably in time for the home game against the Cleveland Browns Oct. 17.

Re: Ron Cook: What Big Ben needs to do

From an email sent by Anita Doddroe yesterday, who was on hand (luckily with a camera) for Ben's surprise visit to the kids football camp last Wednesday:

Hi Erin, I thought I'd send you a few of my pictures of Ben at the Old Spice Mike Tomlin Football Camp.

"I just can't say enough how great Ben was with the kids. We had Heath Miller, Brett Keisel & Chris Hoke come and work with the kids and they were great, too.

"However, when Ben showed up, it was absolutely electric!! The kids were ecstatic and regardless of how the media portrays it, as far as I could tell most, if not all, of the parents were happy to see him, too. I didn't hear a single negative reaction."

Re: Ron Cook: What Big Ben needs to do

Wow. Media scum who gets it. How refreshing. He hits the nail on the head. I could really careless if Ben apologizes to the team to stroke Hines' ego by watching Ben eat humble pie. I'm sure Hines has some things to apologize for too.

All I want Ben to do is to walk the straight and narrow and come back committed to being the best QB in the NFL and winning football games. Nothing else is necessary.

Playing Fantasy Football does not qualify you to be the in the front office or on the coaching staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are professionals and you are not!

Re: Ron Cook: What Big Ben needs to do

Originally Posted by Oviedo

Wow. Media scum who gets it. How refreshing. He hits the nail on the head. I could really careless if Ben apologizes to the team to stroke Hines' ego by watching Ben eat humble pie. I'm sure Hines has some things to apologize for too.

All I want Ben to do is to walk the straight and narrow and come back committed to being the best QB in the NFL and winning football games. Nothing else is necessary.

Yeah he makes some good points but Cook still can't resist taking his shots at Ben.

Re: Ron Cook: What Big Ben needs to do

What Ben needs to do is lead the Steelers to Super Bowl title #7 this season
and almost everyone will forget this offseason drama that Ben brought on himself.
This league is all about "what have you done lately".

Re: Ron Cook: What Big Ben needs to do

I wonder if Hines says this stuff on purpose? Because he knows what we know. Ben plays his best when everyone's against him. Maybe Hines says stuff publicly to get under Ben's skin and make him play better as a result.

Re: Ron Cook: What Big Ben needs to do

Originally Posted by flippy

I wonder if Hines says this stuff on purpose? Because he knows what we know. Ben plays his best when everyone's against him. Maybe Hines says stuff publicly to get under Ben's skin and make him play better as a result.

I think that Hines has a level of resentment with regards to Ben. Hines sees himself as "THE GUY" and he knows he dealing with the reality he is at the end of his career. Add to that he thinks he never has gotten the credit he deserves. In reality and in terms of recognition and pay, Ben is "THE GUY" and IMO that bothers Hines greatly.

Playing Fantasy Football does not qualify you to be the in the front office or on the coaching staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are professionals and you are not!

Re: Ron Cook: What Big Ben needs to do

Originally Posted by Oviedo

Originally Posted by flippy

I wonder if Hines says this stuff on purpose? Because he knows what we know. Ben plays his best when everyone's against him. Maybe Hines says stuff publicly to get under Ben's skin and make him play better as a result.

I think that Hines has a level of resentment with regards to Ben. Hines sees himself as "THE GUY" and he knows he dealing with the reality he is at the end of his career. Add to that he thinks he never has gotten the credit he deserves. In reality and in terms of recognition and pay, Ben is "THE GUY" and IMO that bothers Hines greatly.

why would hines resent ben? ben is a qb. i could of seen him resenting holmes because he is a wr although i have never heard him say anything negative about holmes. its pure speculation to say he resents any of his teammates. what hines cares about most is winning not stats. he never got to a sb before ben. i would think given the scrub qb's hines had to play with before ben i would find it hard to believe hines doesnt appreciate ben's talent. who knows though, you very well could be right. no one knows ben or hines personally so we will never know.

Re: Ron Cook: What Big Ben needs to do

Here's what Ward said:

"A lot of players really don’t know the situation, other than what we hear in the news or the media,” Ward explained. “I think when he addresses the whole team going into training camp, we can all put it behind us and move forward.”

Is he calling Roethlisberger out? Is he demanding a detailed explaination about his night in Georgia? Make your own judgement. Seems like something else blown out of proportion by the media to me.